Kyiv court allows chaotic construction in Lviv
28 October 2024 10:21
The Sixth Court of Appeal of Kyiv has canceled the historical and architectural reference plan of Lviv, Komersant ukrainskyi
reports, citing information posted on the website of the Lviv City Council.
According to the Lviv City Council, this decision “opens the way for chaotic development of the city.”
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said that the meeting was held in closed written proceedings, without the Ministry of Culture and the Lviv City Council having the opportunity to publicly defend their position.
He also warned that the city council is already preparing a cassation appeal and is not going to give up in the fight to preserve the city’s historical heritage.
“This is yet another proof that Ukraine needs quality judicial reform. All decisions concerning communities should be made and discussed in a public process. I ask all journalists, bloggers, and civic activists to pay attention to this situation. Unfortunately, today, publicity is our only defense and hope for justice,” emphasized the mayor of Lviv.
Background of the resonant decision
Lviv’s Historical and Architectural Master Plan, which regulates construction in the city’s historic districts, is being challenged in two courts – in Kyiv and in Lviv. As explained by the Lviv City Council, the two plaintiffs are seeking to build 25-story buildings in the UNESCO Historic Area/Buffer Zone at 13b Lypynskoho Street and 15a Verbova Street. The height of this development contradicts not only the provisions of the Historical and Architectural Reference Plan, but also the provisions of the zoning plan.
In the capital, the document was challenged in terms of its approval by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, and in Lviv, in terms of its approval by the Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Lviv Regional Military Administration.
By law, every historic city, especially if it is part of the UNESCO heritage, is required to have a Historical and Architectural Reference Plan, an important strategic document for the preservation of immovable cultural and historical heritage. In Lviv, the development of this document began in 2017, and this work lasted several years. And in October 2023, the document was approved by the Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, and in January of this year – by the relevant ministry.
